Thursday, November 6, 2008

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2008 -- Coalition forces killed an insurgent associated with the Haqqani foreign fighter facilitator network and one of his associates during an operation in Afghanistan’s Khowst province today, military officials reported.

In the province’s Jaji Maidan district, coalition forces targeted an extremist known to assist the Haqqani terrorist network with the movement of insurgents into Afghanistan. These fighters have carried out numerous suicide and roadside-bomb attacks in the region, officials said.

The targeted insurgents did not follow the instructions of the force and displayed hostile intent. The force engaged the insurgents with small-arms fire, killing both, officials said.

Elsewhere, Afghan and coalition forces killed several insurgents during an extended patrol in the Shah Wali Kott district of Kandahar province, Nov. 3-5.

Witnesses reported seeing insurgents firing machine guns, rockets and RPGs from the rooftops of buildings in the area, as well as mortar teams firing around the ambush site. Civilians reportedly attempted to leave the area, but the insurgents forced them to remain as they continued to fire on the Afghan and coalition forces along the highway.

Kandahar Chief of Police Matulla said he received reports of several civilians being injured while attempting to leave the area. It is unclear if they were the victims of the high volume of insurgent direct and indirect fire. The causes of their injuries are being investigated.

Coalition reports confirm nine insurgents were killed.

On Nov. 4, Afghan and coalition forces killed eight insurgents during a combat patrol in the Khas Oruzgan district of Oruzgan province.

The patrol was headed toward a village to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to villagers when insurgents attacked the patrol with small-arms fire, machine-gun fire and RPGs from fighting positions near the road. Afghan and coalition forces returned fire, killing eight insurgents.

After the attack, Afghan and coalition forces continued on with their scheduled mission and reached the village, where they provided medical treatment to 90 villagers and distributed cold-weather items, including blankets and jackets.